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Shoot the messenger Meaning in English

expression

ˈʃut/ /ˈðə/, /ðə/, /ði/ /ˈmɛsəndʒɝ/, /ˈmɛsɪndʒɝ
SHOOT thuh MES-sen-jer
ʃˈuːt/ /ðə, ði/ /mˈɛsɪndʒɐ
SHOOT thuh MES-in-juh

Definition

To blame or punish the person who brings bad news, instead of addressing the real problem.

Usage & Nuances

This is an idiom, not literal. Used when someone unfairly blames the bearer of bad news. Common in both informal and formal contexts, often said as advice: 'Don't shoot the messenger!'.

Spanish: matar al mensajeroPortuguese (BR): matar o mensageiroPortuguese (PT): matar o mensageiroChinese (Simplified): 迁怒于传信的人Chinese (Traditional): 遷怒於傳信的人Hindi: संदेशवाहक को दोष देनाArabic: قتل الرسول (مجازی)Bengali: বার্তাবাহককে দোষারোপ করাRussian: стрелять в гонца - обвинять приносителя плохих новостейJapanese: 使者を責めるVietnamese: trách người đưa tinKorean: 전달자에게 화풀이하다Turkish: haberciyi suçlamakUrdu: پیغام لانے والے کو موردِ الزام ٹھہراناIndonesian: đổ lỗi cho người đưa tin

Example Sentences

Please don’t shoot the messenger—I’m just telling you what the boss said.

basic

Every time there’s bad news, he tries to shoot the messenger.

basic

Don’t shoot the messenger if you don’t like what you hear.

basic

I’m only the messenger, so don’t shoot the messenger!

natural

Whenever there’s a problem, it feels like staff just want to shoot the messenger instead of fixing it.

natural

Look, I’m not responsible for the changes—don’t shoot the messenger just because I’m telling you about them.

natural